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[TALENT=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Massachusetts hockey dad found guilty of involuntary manslaughter receives his sentence today.
The victim's family asked that Thomas Junta be sent to prison for as long as possible.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

And a Pennsylvania school bus driver is scheduled to appear in court today.
He's accused of taking 13 children on an un-authorized trip.
[WX-Head]
The sunshine returns and it's going to stay awhile as the temperatures soar above normal this weekend...I'll have your forecast....

Today the man known as the "hockey dad," Thomas Junta, learned his fate.
Two weeks ago a Massachusetts jury found him guilty of involuntary
manslaughter in the beating death of 40 year old Michael Costin..at this
hockey rink just north of Boston. Junta and Costin got into an argument
over rough play during their children's practice. That argument turned
into an all out brawl.
(SOT-Michael Costin, Jr./Victim's Son)
"I saw Thomas Junta beating my dad into the ground and my heart went
into my throat" :08
Before giving sentence the judge heard from the family of Michael
Costin... both of his son's say life will never be the same
without their father.
(SOT- Brendon Costin/Victim's Son)
"daddy is the one that I loved so dearly, and its a shame that he left
this earth like he did" :10
Unlike the jury the judge was able to consider Junta's troubled past.
In 1991 Junta's wife obtained a restraining order on claims he beat her
in front of their children.
But the defense lawyer pointed out that the couple is still together and
read a letter Junta wrote to his wife.
(SOT - Voice of: Thomas Orlandi/Defense Attorney)
"I love you honey bunchey,..." :08
STANDUP CLOSE:
To come: (judge...explains why the number of years in jail)
))

[Bus-Driver]

In another high- profile case--
A Pennsylvania school bus driver is facing kidnapping charges after taking a group of students over 100 miles, and into another state.
As Cindy Pena reports Otto Nuss had recently stopped taking medication for long-standing psychiatric problems.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Greenville, MD;]
[SUPER=01-Peter Gulotta, Jr./F. B. I. Spokesman;]
[SUPER=01-Tyler Rudolph/Student;]
[SUPER=01-Josh Septscher/Student;]
[SUPER=01-Cindy Pena/CBS News;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Cindy Pena, CBS News, Greenville, MD. ]
((
The rifle toting bus driver who abducted 13 children from a rural
Pennsylvania school is set to appear in court today on federal
kidnapping charges.
Otto Nuss spent the night in jail after surrendering to an off duty
police officer in Prince Georges' County, Maryland where the 6 hour, 115
mile ordeal came to an end.
SOT: Peter A. Gulotta Jr./FBI spokesman
"He told the officer that he had some kids on the bus from Oley,
Pennsylvania and he brought them to see Washington DCTERMS."
It was a happy ending for 13 the students and their worried parents.
SOT "Tyler Rudolph/Student
"He seemed to have the idea that he really wasn't going to get in
trouble. It was just something he could do and it just didn't seem like
he was kidnapping us."
The bus had picked up the students, ranging in age from 7 to 15,
yesterday morning for their daily six mile trip to Berks Christian
School. When school officials realized the bus hadn't arrived they
called the police ...who began a frantic search in rainy and foggy
weather.
The renegade driver ignored radio calls from his dispatcher as he drove
South. He also ignored some of the kids who asked to be taken
home...but did stop for lunch...at a fast food restaurant.
SOT: Josh Septscher/Student
"With these little kids, we couldn't be scared because when we got
scared the little kids then the little kids would start to panic and
that is the worst thing you want to happen."
Nuss was armed with a rifle kept behind his seat and covered with a
coat, but never threatened anyone. It is still unclear as to why he
committed the crime in the first place.
STANUP; TO COME;
))

[Pulaski-Gas]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It has taken round the clock efforts, but officials say gas service is almost fully restored in the Town of Pulaski.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski/Yesterday;]
According to United Cities Gas, only 50 homes are without gas, out of the original 19 hundred.
Residents and business owners lost service Wednesday evening because of a malfunction.
Crews came from as far away as Tennessee and Georgia to shut down the system, purge the lines, and one- by- one re-light pilots.
United Cities Gas says its engineering group will determine the cause of the malfunction next week.
(------------)

[Huffman]

A Roanoke man has pled guilty to using other people's identities to charge more than 24 thousand dollars in bills and cheat people out of 21 thousand dollars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October]

Keith Wilburn Huffman faces up to 55 years in prison and fines of up to one-point-7-5 MILLION dollars.
He also has to pay 40-thousand dollars in restitution to the credit card companies, and to customers he defrauded on eBay.
Huffman used his access as a free-lance computer consultant at Salem Financial, in order to steal
(------------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[Graphic=Hold]

the Social Security numbers of six of the company's clients.
He used the identities to auction computer equipment on eBay to an estimated 100
customers nationwide.
They sent him more than 21 thousand dollars for computers they never received.

[Optical-Cable]

Optical Cable's board of directors has decided NOT to re-nominate former Chairman and C-E-O Bob Kopstein.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

Kopstein was fired in December from the company he started more than a decade ago.
Yesterday, the board said it would re-elect all other board members expect Kopstein.
He is faulted for losing millions of dollars and devaluing the company's stock price by making high risk investments.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[Graphic=Hold]

Kopstein was invited to take a consultant position with Optical Cable, but has yet to accept the offer.
He will officially be removed from the board at the annual shareholders meeting on March 12.
[WX-Tease]
((TOSS TO LEO))
[1/25/2002]
[SS=NONE]LEO IN WX-CENTER

[WXPRO/FULL]
TIMELAPSE
STORY
WATER LEVELS
[SS=NONE]LEO TOSS BACK

[Tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

A suicide bomber in the middle east injures more than a dozen people. We'll have that story after the break,
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Also the tension is rising between India and Pakistan as India tests a new missle capable of carrying a nuclear payload.
(---------------)
[Streaming Video]
[music up full]
[comm1]

[India-Pakistan]

India says today's test of a new version of its strongest missile was a success.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Balasore, India;]

The short- range, nuclear- capable missile was launched from an island of India's eastern coast.
The test comes as tensions continue growing between India and Pakistan.
[SUPER=03-Kashmir, Pakistan;]

Overnight, troops from both countries exchanged gunfire in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Four Pakistani villagers were wounded.
The violence also damaged homes, displacing dozens of residents who were caught in the crossfire.
(------------)

[Israel-Bombing]

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up today on a busy street in Tel Aviv.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tel Aviv, Israel;]

At least two dozen people were wounded.
The attacker was on a motorbike when he set off the bomb along a pedestrian mall.
Afterward, thousands of Palestinians marched in the West Bank-- some of them handing out candy in celebration of the Tel Aviv attack.
Palestinians have carried out a series of suicide bombings and other attacks on Israelis over the past 16 months.
(------------)

[Afghanistan]

Annan is meeting with leaders of the post- Taliban government and commanders of the British- led peacekeeping force.
The U-N has completed a list of 21 people, who will help design the make-up of Afghanistan's next government.
Annan is asking the rest of the world to cooperate with the re- building of the war- torn country.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:27:00 ]
[IN Q=And I believe]
((KOFI ANNAN/U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: AND I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THEM ARE
BEGINNING TO ACCEPT THAT A STABLE, PEACEFUL AFGHANISTAN THAT IS FOCUSING ON THE
INTEREST OF ITS PEOPLE AND ITS OWN DEVELOPMENT AND HAS NORMAL RELATIONS WITH ITS
NEIGHBORS IS IN THEIR INTEREST. ))
[SUPER=01-Kofi Annan/U. N. Secretary General;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=is in their interest.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the question of whether or not to expand the international security force in Afghanistan is still on the table.
(------------)

[11-VMI-Prayer]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC16:48]
[GRAPHIC=VMI Prayer]
[****ANCHOR TAG****]
The Virginia Military Institute has ended all mandatory prayer at the school.
A federal judge ruled yesterday afternoon that the prayers at VMI were unconstitutional.
Justin McLeod has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 48:44]
[IN Q=Nat sound of dinner at VMI]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/Last Night; :00]
[SUPER=@kilgore; :49]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Lexington]
((((NAT SOUND OF DINNER AT VMI))
The more than fifty year tradition ended immediately.
Thursday night, cadets sat down for dinner without first saying grace together.
[SOT 22:18:09]
[IN Q=Although there are]
((NEIL MELLEN/VMI CADET: ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A GOOD NUMBER DISAGREE WITH ME AND HAVE LET ME KNOW IN ONE FASHION OR ANOTHER AS OF YET THERE'S NO HUGE OUTCRY.))
[Runs10]
[OUT Q=no huge outcry]

Neil Mellen should know.
He is one of two students who with the help of the ACLU challenged VMI's practice of assembling students for a prayer ceremony prior to each evening meal.
The students claimed the tradition violated their constitutional rights.
A federal judge agreed ruling grace at the state funded school amounts to a "state sponsored religious exercise."
The state Attorney General immediately fired back.
[SOT 3:24]
[IN Q=Its a shame]
((JERRY KILGORE/ATTORNEY GENERAL: IT'S A SHAME TODAY WHILE AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR LIBERTIES IN PLACES LIKE AFGHANISTAN, THAT THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TRAINING TO BE SOLDIERS AT VMI CANNOT PRAYER FOR THEIR SAFETY AS A BODY.))
[Runs15]
[OUT Q=as a body]

And for that reason, the Attorney General plans to appeal the decision to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Lexington.))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

There was no official comment from VMI. Superintendent Josiah Bunting is out of the country.

[City-Council]

A former Roanoke City Council member adds his name to the list of this year's candidates.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Today, Jack Parrott announced his intention to run for one of the three open city seats.
The Republican sat on the council from 1994 to 1998.
Three other GOP members and three democrats have already announced, with several more expected.
Parrott said it was an easy decision to run again, having a positive experience the first time around.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I enjoyed]
((JACK PARROTT/(R) ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE: I ENJOYED BEING ON COUNCIL. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF AND OTHER PEOPLE ON COUNCIL AND I'M JUST GLAD I HAVE A CHANCE TO TRY FOR IT AGAIN.))
[SUPER=01-Jack Parrott/(R) Roanoke City Council Candidate;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=for it again.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Parrott said his first order of business would be to tackle Roanoke's water shortage problem.
He also said that his engineering background would help council on issues such as the city's aging water mains.
(------------)

[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up next on the newscast, Leo will let us know what our weekend weather will look like.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
also we'll see why a salute to the flag is dividing lawmakers at the state capitol.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[11Va-Salute]

There is still no compromise on the General Assembly's controversial salute to the Virginia flag.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Black lawmakers objected to the salute after they learned it was written by a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
They will ask fellow lawmakers to end the controversial practice.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:44:55]
[IN Q=why we're having to spend]
((DEL. JERRAULD JONES/D- NORFOLK: WHY WE'RE HAVING TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME OVER SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING TO PRODUCE ONE JOB, NOT GOING TO IMPROVE A FAMILY, NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A QUALITY OF LIFE DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Jerrauld Jones/(D) Norfolk]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=people don't understand.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith says the words of the salute are fine. If "its history" is an issue, He says the state should shut down the University of Virginia and move the capitol to Roanoke.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:12:53]
[IN Q=We have ]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R- SALEM: WE HAVE A SIMPLE LITTLE PLEDGE. IT SAYS WE BELIEVE THAT VIRGINIA IS THE MOTHER OF STATES AND STATESMEN AND THAT HERE IN THE OLD DOMINION WE CHERISH LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE. I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE BAD PRINCIPLES.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Morgan Griffith/(R) Salem; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=I don't think those are bad principles.]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Members of the black caucus have proposed a change in house rules that would eliminate the salute to the Virginia flag. A vote is expected next week.

[Stocks]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was UP 51 points.
[super=460-x/51/y/13;]

The Nasdaq has lost 13 points.

(x=up y=down)

[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
In sports - Could the Keydets pull off a victory over the Cavs?
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And -- this Duke-bound Cave Spring senior has stumbled across a FOOTHOLE that could keep him off the court. We'll have those stories and more coming up in sports.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-Redick]

Now, he and his parents are trying to find out exactly what is going to happen next.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]

But at this time, there is no final diagnosis.
J.J., who attended the Knights' practice last night at Cave Spring Junior High, described what happened when he injured his foot late in the Halifax game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[SUPER=01-J. J. Redick/Cave Spring Senior Guard; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=.....just a pop"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

J.J.'s Father Ken Redick said by phone last night that J.J. is seeking medical treatment and various medical opinions on his foot.
J.J. said he had a little tendinitis in the arch of his right foot recently, but that it's gone away.
His foot is encased in a protective boot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=....i don't know anything right now"]

[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=j.j. redick]
Tonight Cave Spring hosts GW Danville for first place in the Western Valley District.

VMI was hoping looking for an upset in University Hall.
And they would hang close for much of the first half.
Jason Conely, the nation's leading scorer, takes the rebound, and takes it down the court for the basket.
Then Conely flushes the alley-oop pass from Richard Little.
All of a sudden VMI is up 14 to 12.
But that's about as close as it would be for the Keydets.
Roger Mason stops and pops in the lane for a deuce.
Then J.C. Mathis would score 20 points on the evening.
[SUPER=33-Virginia#7/93/VMI/59/; :]

And VMI can do nothing but watch, as the Cavs run away with this one, 93-59.
(--------------)

[S-Dazzle]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-114 (43:49)]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Dazzle]
The Roanoke Dazzle played host to the Columbus Riverdragons at the Civic Center last night--
But they were a bit TOO hospitable, losing 85 to 79.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Roanoke vs. Columbus; :]

Dazzle coach Kent Davison working the bench during the game.
The River Dragons were on the move--
Kareem Poole gets the ball and hits the mid range jumper.
Then Roanoke's Marshall Phillips takes it coast to coast and banks it off the glass for the Dazzle.
Columbus then gets it to Chris Garner
He goes straight up the middle and hits the three- pointer at the top of the key.
[SUPER=33-Columbus/85/Roanoke/79/; ;]

Off the inbounds, Artie Griffin throws it in to newcomer Anthony Pell.
He turns and throws down the Jam.
Columbus wins it 85 to 79.
(------------)